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Rural patients in the United States still face barriers to telehealth access

A new study reveals persistent disparities in telehealth access among rural US populations, with older adults, Spanish speakers, and those on Medicaid or Medicare facing significant barriers. The research highlights the need for policy reform and digital health equity efforts to address these disparities and improve virtual care access.

SourceJMIR Publications·JournalJournal of Medical Internet Research·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateSep 9, 2025

Adolescent boys who experience violence have up to 8 times the odds of perpetrating physical and sexual intimate partner violence that same day, per South African study collecting real-time data over mobile phones

A new study published in PLOS One found that adolescent boys who experience violence are at a significantly increased risk of perpetrating physical and sexual intimate partner violence. The research collected real-time data over mobile phones and revealed that these boys have up to 8 times the odds of committing such acts on the same day.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS One·DateMar 12, 2025

Remote medical interpreting is a double-edged sword in healthcare communication

A recent study from the University of Surrey found that remote medical interpreting (RMI) can compromise the quality of communication in healthcare settings. Interpreters reported mixed experiences with technology during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the need for careful consideration of interpreting methods based on the nature o...

SourceUniversity of Surrey·JournalPerspectives·TypeObservational study·DateNov 4, 2024

Novel digital pet game within smoking cessation app increases user engagement with app’s tools to quit smoking

A new study found that embedding a customizable digital pet game within a popular smoking cessation app increased user engagement and direct use of the app's smoking cessation tools. Overall engagement with the app increased by 20 percent, and direct use of the tool increased by 30 percent among participants who had access to the game.

SourceBoston University School of Public Health·JournalJournal of Medical Internet Research·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateOct 31, 2024

New research shows regular mobile phone use can increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases, especially in smokers and people with diabetes

A large-scale prospective cohort study found a positive association between regular mobile phone use and incident cardiovascular disease risk, particularly in smokers and individuals with diabetes. Poor sleep patterns, psychological distress, and neuroticism may be key mechanisms underlying this association.

SourceElsevier·JournalCanadian Journal of Cardiology·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateSep 4, 2024

Tradition meets transformation for Maasai women

A new study reveals that Maasai women are gaining access to household decisions through livelihood diversification, education, and secure land tenure. This research contributes to the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goal of Gender Equality, highlighting the value of empowering decision-making for women in pastoralist communities.

SourceVirginia Tech·JournalJournal of Rural Studies·DateAug 5, 2024

To get drivers to put down their phones, make it a game

Researchers found that a game-based approach can significantly reduce handheld phone use among drivers, with a 28% reduction in usage. The intervention included earning points for reducing phone use and competing on a leaderboard, leading to lasting improvements in driver behavior.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJul 29, 2024

When there’s money to lose, phone usage while driving drops

A study found that drivers who received weekly feedback on their phone use and a cash incentive of up to $50 used their phones less than those given no incentive or feedback. The intervention also led to a 21% decrease in handheld phone usage when drivers were told they would lose money if they engaged in phone use while driving.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJul 10, 2024

Use of WhatsApp messages by public health service to treat depression in older people produces results, study shows

A new WhatsApp-based program has shown significant improvements in treating depression among older adults in Brazil. The Viva Vida program used simple audio messages and images to provide education on depression and behavioral activation, with a 10-point improvement in symptom reduction between intervention and control groups.

SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·JournalNature Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJun 11, 2024

Mobile device location data is already used by private companies, so why not for studying human-wildlife interactions, scientists ask

Researchers argue that mobility data can help understand human-wildlife interactions and inform policy decisions on sustainability-related issues. They propose aggregating datasets without personal identifiers to make them accessible to researchers, benefiting both conservation and private companies.

SourceCell Press·JournalCell Reports Sustainability·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateApr 26, 2024

Tuning a terahertz wave filter

Researchers at Tohoku University have created a tuneable terahertz wave filter that can achieve higher transmission rates and better signal quality than conventional systems. The new filter uses Fabry-Perot interferometry to control the filtering effect, enabling selective transmission of desired frequencies.

SourceTohoku University·JournalOptics Letters·DateMar 11, 2024

Live video streaming from trauma incidents to emergency medical services is easy for members of the public to use and is feasible to evaluate – a new study finds

A new study led by the University of Surrey found that live video streaming from trauma incidents to emergency medical services using smartphones is feasible to implement and evaluate. The technology could aid decision-making about dispatching the right personnel and vehicles to major trauma incidents.

SourceUniversity of Surrey·JournalScandinavian Journal of Trauma Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine·DateFeb 27, 2024

Mobile phone data sheds light on unhealthy food consumption disparities during COVID-19

A pioneering study using mobile phone data analysis sheds light on socioeconomic disparities in unhealthy food reliance during COVID-19, particularly among racial minorities and low-income households. The study found that COVID-19 has exacerbated convenience store reliance, especially in Hispanic-majority counties and areas with older ...

SourceHealth Data Science·JournalHealth Data Science·DateJan 7, 2024

Mobile phone use may affect semen quality

A large cross-sectional study of over 2,800 young men in Switzerland found an association between mobile phone use and lower sperm concentration. While no link was discovered to poor sperm motility or morphology, the results suggest that reduced semen quality may be linked to increased mobile phone usage.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalFertility and Sterility·TypeNews article·DateNov 1, 2023

Mobile phone calls linked with increased risk of high blood pressure

Research published in European Heart Journal – Digital Health found a 12% increased risk of high blood pressure among mobile phone users who spent 30 minutes or more per week on calls. This association held true even after adjusting for other risk factors, suggesting that the duration of phone conversations may be a crucial factor.

SourceEuropean Society of Cardiology·JournalEuropean Heart Journal - Digital Health·DateMay 4, 2023

Android-based application for photoacoustic tomography image reconstruction

A mobile application utilizing Python and a single-element ultrasound transducer has been developed for photoacoustic tomography (PAT) image reconstruction. The application successfully reconstructs high-quality images with signal-to-noise ratio values above 30 decibels, making it suitable for point-of-care diagnosis in low-resource se...

SourceSPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics·JournalJournal of Biomedical Optics·DateApr 27, 2023

Mandatory vs recommendation: Norway assessed mobility during times of mandatory and non-mandatory COVID-19 measures

Researchers found that non-mandatory measures had a greater impact on reducing travel distances and times, while mandatory measures only slightly affected these metrics. In contrast, strict metre rules and reopening of gyms increased distance travelled.

SourceEuropean Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)·JournalEurosurveillance·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateApr 27, 2023

Researchers test smart surfaces to improve wireless communication and localization

Researchers at UBC Okanagan have developed transmission schemes that incorporate reconfigurable intelligent surfaces to serve as reflectors within existing wireless networks. These surfaces can bounce signals to cell phones, improving accuracy and reliability in location services and data speeds.

SourceUniversity of British Columbia Okanagan campus·JournalIEEE Communications Letters·TypeMeta-analysis·DateMar 2, 2023

Watch weekend tech as teens settle into school

A recent study from the University of South Australia found that teenagers with a 'late sleep chronotype' who use technology before bed on weekends are at greater risk of disturbed sleep. This can lead to a serious sleep deficit, negatively impacting their daily tasks and wellbeing.

SourceUniversity of South Australia·JournalChild and Adolescent Mental Health·TypeCase study·DateFeb 27, 2023